I 



P s 

60S3 
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

UNITED STATES Or AMEEICA. 



By EDWAED OWINGS TOWNB. 



EXTRACTS FROM PRESS OPINIONS. 

"Wise and witty without being wearisome." — IFasA- 
ingtoii Critic, 

"There is not a dull or pointless saying between its 
covers." — Every Saturday. 

"The volume is both interesting and instructive, and 
elevates skyward our opinion of Chicago." — The 
National Hepubtican. 

" It is a charming little book to pick up at odd moments, 
always leaving an impress for good, even at a 
casual glance."— OTJca Daily Press. 

"A neat volume of short, pithy sentences, containing 
great, practical truths. * * * Many of them are 
original, sparkling in wit, and good to remem- 
ber." — Inter- Ocean. 

"Each aphorism is like a bubble from the glass, afloat 
and reflecting the sunlight with many hues. Be it 
wit or satire that lights, or literature or life, 
humanity or the individual that is revealed, some 
truth is made bright and attractive." — Boston 
Daily Globe. 
The publishers announce a fourth edition of the above 

work. 
For sale by leading booksellers, or may be ordered 

from the publishers. 

Mid-Continent Publishing Co., 

CHICAGO. 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2011 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/completionofspir01town 







ED WARD OWIKGS TOWNE. 



Completion of the Spire 



AND 



OTHER POEMS 



Edward Owings Towne 



OHIOAGO 

Mid-Continent Publishing Co 

189^ 







Copyright, 

1889. 
By Edwabd Owings Towne. 



SECOND EDITION. 



;ompleTion o 



fii,. 



ire 



THE COMPLETION OF THE SPIRE. 

"^ MIGHTY throng of people filled the streets, 
rr^ Ten tlioiisand eyes upon the new-built spire 
Were fixed. Graceful and fair it rose 
Above the massive portals and arched entrances 
Of Copenhagen's far-famed kirk, 
A marvel of construction and of beauty. 
But a few strokes were to be added 
And the life-long dream of Hans the builder, 
Finished, would forever live in stone. 
But now upon tlie eve of the eventful hour, 
The heart of Hans the builder is sad, 
Por in all the progress of the work. 
And daily laying of stone on stone. 
And constant lifting of beams to dizzy heights, 
Not one drop of blood had sealed the work, 
iSTot one expiring soul liad left its legacy 
Of immortality to the builder's skill. 
And to every master builder it was known, 
That no spire or tower or monument ever built 
Could last without the seal of blood 



A Inimaii life must be the cost 

Of ?M enduring pile of stone. 

So in the summer afternoon 

As Hans the master builder 

Mounted the steps to the belfry tower, 

His lips were tightly pressed together, 

And his eyes rolled gloomily beneath his frown- 

iug brows. 
At the foot of the last ladder he came upon 
Three apprentices str.pping from their work. 
''Well.master,'" said one, "our work is finished." 
'■JSo. Carl," the master said, "it is not finished; 
"One thing remains, but it must be a brave man 

to do it.'' 
"Well, master, for that man you have not far to 

look," 
The apprentice answered; "I will do it. 
"There is no steadier head in Copenhagen than 

mine." 
A quick looK shot from beneath the master's 

shaggy brows. 
"Thou art a boaster," said he, "mine is 

steadier." 
"Nay, master, not even thine," the other 

answered, 
"Then, child, make good thy boast. 



"Bring back my hatchet from w'lsre I place it," 

Said the master, 
And "witliout anotlier word, 
He leaped upon a ledge 
Oyer which a banner beam extended 
Forty feet into the clear air. 
Upon this beam, running out, the master, 
Agile, sure-footed, strong and possessed 
Of a courage that age could not abate. 
Sunk the hatchet to the very helve into its end : 
A moment later he stood again upon the ledge. 
And calmly said, "Bring back my hatchet, son." 
And beneath his breath he muttered — 
"The spire is not yet finished. " 

The apprentice stood appalled. His master's deed 

Had filled even his stout heart with horror. 

But siunmoning up his courage, smiling faintly, 

He stepped upon the ledge. 

In the western sky the sun was half way down. 

The narrow streets were filled with people. 

As he stepped upon the beam he could hear 

Their distant roar sink into silence. 

At first he moved out briskly, 

Then a thought of Matilda, the builder's daughter, 

Crossed his mind. 



His step became slower. 

The beam quivered and bent beneatli his weight. 

In spite of liimself he hesitated, wlien to hesitate 

He knew was death. 

There was a pressure upon his chest. 

He stifled a sob. 

He approached the beam's end. 

His head began to reel. 

Now to seize the hatchet! 

As he looked upon it, to his horror, 

Instead of one were two! He saw double! 

"Master,"' said he, "Master, which one shall I 

bring?" 
The master quickly crossed himself. 
"Master, master, which one? Whicli one? 
"Jesn pity, I can not find it!" 
He slowly straightened up. An instant 
He covered his eyes with his hands. 
Then reeling slightly, wiin arms extended fell. 
"May God have mercy on his soul! 
"The spire is finished," 
Said Hans the master builder. 



LEGEND OF THE FORGET-ME-NOT. 

¥5YH! never, I weeii, on earth was seen, 
V^ A lady more lovely and bright; 
And never before on the Itchen's shore 
Was tliere ever so gallant a knight. 

Tliey sat by the side of tlie mirroring tide, 
They counted the stars in tlie stream; 

The night was but day, witli a star-softened ray. 
Their love was tlie love of a dream. 

As sweet was the vow to tlie lady, I trow, 

As ever by true knight was given; 
lie swore by the skies, by the lady's blue eyes. 

And everything true under heaven. 

Then down the blue river, that floweth forever. 

There floated a chaplet of flowers; 
Said the lady bright to the gallant Knight, 

"O, would tliat the chaplet were ours — " 

Jfo sooner the word by the lover was heard. 

Than into the flood plunged he. 
And gallant and brave, he breasted tlie wave. 

That onward swept to the sea. 



The blossoms lie seized and turned well iileased, 
To swim witli liis prize to tlie shore; 

Tlie current was stroi:g as it rushed aloug, 
And his armor weitjhted liim sore. 

IJut lie giithered liis strength and swam till at 
length, 

lie had almost reached tlie bank, 
When his heart misgave, and under the wave 

Before her eyes he sank. 

Twice did he rise, with distraught eyes, 

Most pitiful to see; 
Twice did he sink, (Oh. heaven! to think.) 

In terrible agony. 

At last once again, (but the struggle was vain,) 

He rose to the pitying air, 
His lady's face white in piteous affright, 

He saw in his last despair. 

The dripping flowers sweet lie threw ;it her feet- 

The flowers his life had bought— 
And cried in his pain, as he sank again, 

"Thy flowers— forget me not." 



And true to lier knight, the lady bright 
Her life long mourned her lot; 

And to this hour, her true love's flower 
Is called— Forget-Me-ISrot. 



THE CASTLE BY THE SEA. 

Prom the Qcrman of Uhland. 

ItiifAVE you beheld the castle, 
.-^--PThe castle by the sea? 
Rosy and golden with sunlight, 
Did the clonds float over theeV 

Ah! fain! ah! fain! would the castle 
Bow down to the mirroring stream! 

Ah! fain! would it rise to a crowning 
Of flame, in the eventide's beam. 

"Indeed, have I beheld it. 

The castle by the sea, 
The moon above it shining, 

The mist all silvery!" 

The winds, the waves of ocean. 
Gave they a joyous sound? 

Heard you tlie lofty towers 
With festal song resound? 

"The winds, the waves were silent, 
The winds, the waves all slept; 

A dirge from out the castle, 
I heard and hearing wept." 



Saw you a king and consort, 
The marble steps come do-wn? 

Saw you red mantles waving, 
And the flash of a golden crown. 

Beheld you not with wonder, 
A lovely young girl there, 

(A vision like an angel!) 
With glorious golden hairV 

"Indeed, I saw both parents. 
But not the flashing crown, 

I saw dark mourning garments, 
But young girl saw I none." 



FLEMISH SONG. 

Itf KNOW a song so dear to me, 

^ A song of wondrous melody, 
A simple song whicli stirs my heart 
Beyond the studied jiowers of art; 

It is a song my mother sang, 

Deep from her loving heart it spiang. 
She sang it to her cradle joy, 
Her darling child, her first-born boy. 

Oh! mother song! Oh! mother love! 

My heart to tears ye move. 

I know a song so dear to me, 

A song of wondrous melody, 
A simple song which stirs my heart 
Beyond the studied powers of art; 

It is a song a loved one sung 

When love and life and hope were young. 
When sliies and fields and flowers and grove 
Smiled on our happy wedded love. 

Oh! youth! Oh! love! Oh! summer's day! 

How soon ye fleet away! 




The lips that sung it once are cold. 

— Flemish Song. 



I know a song so clear to me, 

A song of wondrous melody, 
A simple song which stirs my heart, 
Beyond the studied powers of art; 

But no one sings that song of old, 

The lips that sang it once are cold, 
And though so sweet in by gone-years. 
Its memory fills my eyes with tears. 

Oh! age! Oh! life! Oh' winter's day! 

Ye, too, will pass away! 



WHEN FIRST I SAW THEE. 

WHEX first I saw thee, 
As a wild thing miglit, — 
Betrayed iuid faced and caught 

By the hunter, 
Dazed, confused, confounded, 
I became thy captive. 



All spare me, sweet! or rather spare me not! 
Kill me— kill me with love! 

Ah, yes! *** 



When first I saw thee 

As a dove. 

With broken wing, 

So fond — alas! 

So dazed, so lost, 

I fluttered to thy hand *** 

******* 

What! Are you so cruel? Must I leave you now? 

Nay! Nay! You command? Well, kiss me then, 

And I will go — 

No! No! Not once! Not once! — one kiss? one kiss'r 

A million were too little, 

A thousand, pitiful, 

One— death! 



INSANITY. 

jTsyH! Why do you come thus dabbled in blood? 
V^ Yet welcome, dark angel, to thee; 
Ha! Hast thou brought from the Lethean flood 
The drink thou hast promised to me? 

Yes? Pour, pour it forth into this golden cup. 

Fill, fill it now to the brim. 
Now lady, sweet lady, now drink, drink it up. 

And drown— drown— all memories of him. 

Gone? Oh! God! Gone? Black, black is the 
night. 

Blood! Blood! Blood drops from the skies! 
See!— There!— in a shroud of pure white. 

See! See! His body— (Aere— lies — 

My darling! W^hy,— darling! — Your lips are all 
cold! 
Come, dear-i^t, 'tis Lena, the one you would 
wed; 
My loved one! my life! my treasure untold! 
Great God! Oh! My God! he is dead! 



WAR. 

THE babe is in the cradle, 
Sweet sleep its eyes lias sealed; 
Beside the crib the mother 
Before her God has kneeled. 

Unto her God the mother 
Frays with lips that bum,— 

Prays that God will grant 
The father's safe return. 

Under a freezing sky, 

While the mother prayeth low. 
The life blood of the father 

Keddeus the falling snow. 

The babe is in the cradle. 
The mother on her knees. 

The father lieth on the field. 
Done with victories. 



COQUETTE. 

l^tOQUETTE, Coquette, I, thy pet, 
*<X For a day, for a day,— 
How you smile as I fret. 

Saying yes and theu nay, 

Saying carelessly yes and indifferently nay. 
Coquette, Coquette, sweet Coquette. 

Coquette, Coquette, I regret 

That you smiled on the day. 
When we met, when we met. 

Saying yes and then nay, 

Saying charmingly yes and provokingly nay. 
Coquette, Coquette, sweet Coquette. 

Coquette, Coquette, in thy net 

I can say, I can say, 
That the world's hope is set 

In a girl's yes or nay. 

In a girl's simple yes or a girl's simple nay. 
Coquette, Coquette, sweet Coquette. 



VEIL, O, VEIL THOSE LOVELY EYES. 

!i Ct"EIL, O, veil those lovely eyes, 
^ And hide, O, hide thy face, 
And let my breaking heart forget 
Thy loveliness and grace. 

Bind again thy falling hair, 
And take thy lips from mine. 

And let me teach my own to know 
They may not feed on thine. 

Love, O, Love! why art thou dear. 
When sighs and tears can tet 

So little of the agony 
Of love's— of love's— fare well y 



PERFECTION. 

" '^ MARYLLIS I did woo, 
(T"rV And I courted Phillis too; 
Daphne for her love I chose, 
Chloris for the damask rose 
In her cheek I held most dear." 
Nina's hand once drew me near, 
Pairer tlian a dream, I thought, 
Celia for her lips I sought, 
Nora for her soft brown eyes. 
And the soul that in them lies, 
Cora for her wealth of hair, 
Pallas for her form and air; 
Many ladies have I woo'd. 
For cheek, for lip, for hand have sued: 
Now in thee all these I find, 
Chloris' cheek and Nora's mind, 
Celia's lips and Cora's hair. 
All adorn thee, gentle fair: 
Phillis' soul and Pallas' grace. 
Breathe tlieir beauties o'er thy face. 
Daphne's heart is in thy breast, 
Amaryllis gives the rest. 



DALPHINE. 

^ THROW myself upon my couch, 
r|L And sob the weary night; 
The morning smiles upon the woe, 
It can not render liglit. 

I walk upon the streamlet's bank— 

My soul delights in shade— 
With the heaviest heart that ever sank 

Within the breast of maid. 

A bird sings from the arch above. 

With iiitying notes to me; 
"O, never let thy sorrow dwell 

Beyond the night with thee." 

I smile upon the witless thing, 
And speak in terms as brief; 

"The one that knows not woman's love. 
Can never know ner grief." 




I walk upon the streamlet's bank. 

— Dalpliine. 



THE ROSEBUD. 

"A ROSEBUD sweet luid timid, 
i-rrV In a pretty gfl.'-'len grew. 
It was just too latb for sunsliine, 
Just too early for tlie dew. 

"Do you love me, Aimie, Aimie? 

Do you love me, love meV True?" 
Can I e'er forget her answei'V 

"Love youV Yes— love only you." 

And the little flower garden, 
Where the pretty rosebud grew, 

Seemed to me a kind of heaven, 
Made for just us two. 



O, DEEM ME NOT INCONSTANT. 

DEEM nie not inconstant, 
O, deem me not iintrue, 
The more I know of others' hearts, 
The more mhie turns to you. 

O, deem me not inconstant, 

O, deem me not untrue. 
The more I gaze in others' eyes,, 

The more I see in you. 

O, deem me not inconstant, 

O, deem me not untrue. 
Each fault I find in others, sweet, 

A ne-:^ charm adds to you. 



THE BROKEN HEART. 

THE FLOWER that rudely from its stem 
is torn 
Does not upon the instant fade and die. 
But with an innocence tliat pity moves 
Opens ^vithin tlie spoiler's hand its glowing heart, 
And still unstinted yields its sweet perfume. 
So hearts that break may still beat on, 
Nor eyes lack lustre when they smile, 
The mantling cheek still, still may glow. 
The sunlight still may dance upon the hair 
But like the flower "tis but an hour— a day, 
The sun sets shining on its growing loveliness, 
The morning breaks upon its withered leaves. 



THE BROOKLET. 

THOU brooklet, thoughtless tide, 
Giddy, dancing, rushing by. 

Could you know 

The thoughts you bring 
To me, as I lie 

With my liead upon mj' hands, 

Would you still be hurrying? 

O, thou brooklet, flckle one. 

Bubbling, smiling, -whirling by. 
So like — so like- 
One that I knew, 
O, the thoughts you lirmg 

To me— as I lie 
With my head upon my hands,— 
Ah! Ah! How the brook, the brook is 
hurrying! 



SPEED, SPEED, GOOD STEED. 

(S* PEED, speed, good steed; the late moon sheds 
^ Its beams witli warning splendor; 
A sweet, bright face of haunting grace, 

With eyes full dark and tender 
Is sad with waiting for me. 

Haste thee, good steed! haste thee! oh, haste! 

Oh! fast and faster bear me! 
Eor by my God, the spur and rod 

I can not, will not spare thee, 
Willie that sweet face and those dear eyes 

Are sad with waiting for me. 



A LOVER TO A STAR. 

!1(9EAUTirUL, beautiful, radiant and brioht, 
rr-c^ Lovely, ah! loveliest, star of the night; 
Lovelight of heaven, shining afar, 
O, thou art purity, beautiful star. 

Star brightly shining, shining above. 
As long as you shone, we swore we would love; 

That vow she has broken — yet— gem of the sky. 
I love her alone and will, loving her, die. 



AH! BUT TO BREATHE AGAIN. 

"tV H! but to breathe again 
(T-^ In the world of thy charms; 
Ah! But to dream again 

In the heaven of thy arm". 

Ah! But to live again 

The old days of bliss; 
Ah! But to know again 

What is past and yet still is. 



RAISE AGAIN THE DROOPING HEAD. 



i^AISE agi 
#[l- When fri 



again the drooping liead, 
riendsliip's liope is gone, 
But wlio will lift the fallen crown 
Of love's mourning oney 



Raise again the drooping head,' 
"When friends are gone forever, 

]!ut the pulse love's paiting slows, 
Quickens again, ah! v.rer' 



LANDSCAPE. 



®NCE above us stood a cottage, 
Looking downward o'er the vale, 
Once within yon grove a maiden 
Listened to a lover's tale. 



Now the cottage is in ruins, 
And beneath the elm tree's shade. 

Lie the broken hearted parents 
Of a love-lost, ruined maid. 



WERE I A KING. 

EEE I a king, were I a king, 
^\.nd fighting for my crown, 
Wliat wounds, what wounds with joy I'd take, 
With lionor smiling on! 



W'l 



Were I a knight, were I a knight. 
In lists my truth to prove. 

How gladly life itself I'd give 
For one tear of love. 



1 HOLD IN MY HAND A BOOK. 

jr HOLD in my hand a book, 
fT- In tlie book is written a name; 
Tears start to my eyes as I look, 
My cheek burns as a flame. 

Oh! That love is so blind! 

Oil! that love is so dear! 
Oh! tliat a secret should bind 

To silence forever my tear! 



MORNING. 

THE early morning sini has filled ihe fields, 
My dog bounds gaily by my side, 
The turtle flies with wliistling wings, 
The cattle nip the moistened grass with eager 

haste, 
Tlie world is Shed— is filled with glory. 
A new created, strange, intoxicating glory, 
Not possible without last night — apd j/om. 



OH! NEVER YET. 



m 



never yet 
The morning drank 
The gathered dews 
That in her liaste 
The night liad left, 

Bnt that 
Ere she came back. 
To fill again 
Her flowery cups, 
Some maiden's heart 
Went thrilling 

To the deep 
Wild music 

Of first love. 



SONG. 

BO kisses were like mine, 
Like mine, like mine. 
Like mine, lie said; 
No other lips were half so dear, 

So dear, so dear; 
And yet for this full year, 
To another he's been wed, 

Been wed, been wed. 
To another he's been wed. 



WHAT SHALL A MAIDEN DO? 



w 



HAT shall a maiden do 

When love says, come, 
But duty bids her stay? 

What shall she do? 

What shall she say? 
Ah! what can a maiden do, 

When love says, come? 



WHEN FAR FROM THEE. 

WHEN lar from thee, 
Coukl I but know 
You thought of me, 
That once 
(Even in a dream,) 
You thought of me. 
My exile 
Would less bitter be, 
My weary exile 

Would less bitter be. 



A HAPPY DEATH. 

From the German. 

LIFELESS, Stricken 
By her charms, 
[ lie buried 

111 her arms; 
Kisses wake me, 

1 uprise. 
And see heaven 
In her eves. 



THE BEGGAR LOVE. 



T 



HE beggar love, 

At the heart's cOosed portals. 

Sues with sighs 
And humble prayer, 

But once withur,— 
The cunning rascal 

Is instant master there. 



THE BUBBLE LOVE. 

©THOU bubble love, stay, stayi 
I quickly follow— overtake it- 
Have I caught thee, love? Nay! Nay! 
To catch a bubble is to break it. 



Mac 



nqais 



I. 

WHAT is beautyV 
"Tis not known 
Where my darling 
Is not seen. 

What is fortune? 

'Tis to reign 
In my darling's heari 

\. king. 



II. 



^WEET ROSES in her garden grow, 
^ Roses and lilies fair- 
Her onl}' jewels are 

The dew drops hangmg there. 



III. 

^HE IS beautiful, 

^ Slie is beautiful— 
As a star risen from the sea, 
But I love her less, I love her less, 

For her beauty 

Than for her purity. 



TV. 

W S A EOSE lier mouth, 
(T^ As two stars lier eyes, 
And Uer geutle voice, 
Sounds from paradise. 

As a rose lier mouth, 
As two stars her eyes, 

Ah! what without my sweet 
To me were paradise! 



V. 

*^ MILLIOX stars, 
(T^ Are kind above, 
But cruel, cruel 

Is mj' love; 
A perfect moon 
Bestows, her light. 
My love would leave me 

To the night; 
Strange, that stars 
And moon should stay, 
And love, love only, 

Run away! 



VL 

'TAY, thou art so tair, 
' Why le;ive me to despair? 
When you are gone 
Tlie night is cold, 
The grass is damp, 
The flowers are wet, 
Stay, my darling. 

Stay a moment yet! 



VII. 

THE MOUNTAIN has a flower. 
Not to be bought with gold; 
The mountahi has a treasure, 
The city does not hold. 

That flower, that priceless flower, 
My darling one thou art, 

That treasure, when I clasp thee, 
I hold upon my heart. 



VIII. 

ifF I WERE a little bird, 
f^ Flittiug tlu-ougli the sky, 
Can you tell me, can you tell me, 
Whither I would fly? 

Through the summer morning's purple, 
Through the summer morning's dew, 

I would fly, thou little maiden, 
On my swiftest wiug to you. 



IX. 

THE HEART that love has never known 
Is like a wayside flower, 
That all unpitied, withered, dies 
In an unheeded hour. 

The heart that love has never known 

Is but a useless frame, 
Unfilled by love's bright images, 

'Tis but a heart in name. 



■aiaiii 



